2G licenses to Aircel: JPC may summon Dayanidhi Maran

 Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran owns 74 per cent share in Aircel.

As most of the big names allegedly involved in the 2G spectrum allocation scam have been sent to jail by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the focus is now shifting on a deal between Sun Group, owned by the family of Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, and Malaysia's Maxis Group, the major shareholder in Aircel, sources told Headlines Today on Tuesday.

Sources said Maran brothers might have received as much as Rs 700 crore as kickback from Maxis, which owns 74 per cent share in Aircel, India's seventh biggest telecom operator.

Maran thus becomes the third prominent leader of the DMK after former telecom minister A. Raja and party chief M. Karunanidhi's parliamentarian daughter Kanimozhi, both of whom have been arrested for their alleged roles in the scam, to come under scanner for issuing 2G licenses violating norms.

Maran met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh late on Monday evening after a Cabinet meeting and there was a possibility that he might be summoned by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which has been independently probing the scam.

According to a report by Justice Shivraj V. Patil committee, constituted by the department of telecommunication (DoT) to probe the 2G spectrum allocation scam, Aircel had two telecom licences till 2004. In December 2006, it was issued telecom licences and spectrum in 14 more circles by the DoT, then headed by Maran as the telecom minister.

All new licences were issued by the DoT at 2001 prices which, as per Justice Patil report, was in violation of a 2003 Cabinet decision to allow additional spectrum at 2001 prices. The report pointed out that the DoT delayed granting a licence to Aircel-Dishnet in 2005 with Maran constantly putting up queries and causing delays.

Finally in December 2006, apart from issue of licences in 14 circles Aircel-Dishnet was also favoured by allotment of start up spectrum. Patil observed that this would not have been possible but for involvement of Maran.

Justice Patil report observed that Aircel allegedly reciprocated favours and Maxis group paid over Rs 725 crore to companies of Sun TV Group. Maxis allegedly invested Rs 625 crore in Sun TV Network at a huge and unrealistic premium.